The ink may have only just dried on the computer renderings of Ragley’s new full-suspension bikes but we’ve been getting up close and personal with them at Eurobike. Reassuringly, as with everything Ragley, there’s been a lot of thought poured into the 10-4, Big 10-4 and G6.
The traditional Ragley hallmarks of a slacker-than-the-rest head angle, steep seat angle and lengthy top tube are all present and correct but there’s a twist... Designer Brant Richards (now back at On-One) wanted the new full-sussers to ‘feel’ like hardtails. As a result, they each have less travel at the rear than the front.
The longer fork design promotes Ragley’s famous handling, with the brand and their test riders feeling that the shorter-travel rear reduces squatting and brake jack while improving climbing. The 10-4s get a 100/140mm split while the G6 gets a more agro 130/160mm split.
All three bikes have the ubiquitous 142x12mm rear axle. Leverage rates have been tweaked accordingly for the 29in-wheeled Big 10.4's shock. Each bike will be available with a choice of two spec levels, and frames will also be available individually.
Also new this year is the M74. Designed as a hard-hitting entry-level bike, it features a 1x10 drivetrain with chain guide and a specially made silver-legged RockShox Recon fork. Most impressive, however, is the pricetag – UK distributors Hotlines are still waiting for final confirmation but it’s looking at hitting the shops at £700 complete.
Ragley M74